The Internal

Structure of the
Earth
Lesson #6
 RECAP

What is a
hotspot?
 Hawaiian Islands Youngest
Oldest and
and most
least active
active

Mantle Plume
Tectonic Plate
Hotspot
The Layers of
the Earth!
 Earth Layers

• The Earth is divided into four

main layers.

*Crust
*Mantle
*Outer core
*Inner core
 How do we know there are four
layers?

• Using ________
seismic waves, they can
tell whether an object is a _____
solid
or a _____,
liquid so by using that
information, they theorized about
the interior layers of the Earth.
http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/DisplayImage.cfm?ID=124
 The Crust
* The Earth’s crust is the
outermost surface.

*It is a very thin layer of solid

rock. It is the thinnest layer of
the Earth.

*The crust is 5-35km thick

beneath the land and 1-8km
thick beneath the oceans.

* The crust of the Earth is broken

into many pieces called plates.
The movement of these plates
causes earthquakes.
 The Mantle
* The mantle is the largest
layer of the Earth. It is
2900km thick.

*It is relatively flexible—it

flows like very viscous
liquid.

*It is very hot—1600°F at the

top and 4000°F towards
the center of the Earth.
 The Core
* The core of the Earth is
like a ball of very hot
metals. The core is
divided into 2 layers—
Outer and Inner.

* The core is SO hot and

has SO much pressure
that if you were to go
there—you would be
squished into
something even smaller
than a marble.
 The Outer Core
* The outer core is
liquid metal iron
and nickel with 10%
sulfur and/or
oxygen.

* It is very hot—
4000-9000°F.

* The outer core is

2,250km thick.
 The Inner Core
* The inner core is solid
metal due to the
extreme heat and
pressure.

* It is composed of iron
and nickel. It is
responsible for the
magnetic field the
Earth generates.

* The inner core is 800km

thick and is 9000°F.
 Sum it Up!
1) What are the four layers of the Earth?
2) The Earth’s crust is very ______?
3) The mantle is the largest layer of the
Earth? True or False
4) Is the Outer Core a liquid or a solid?
5. ) Is the Inner Core liquid or Solid?
 Answers!
1) Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner
Core
2) Thin
3) True
4) Liquid
 The Internal
Structure of the
Earth
Lesson #6
What are the four
layers of the
Earth’s Interior?
 How do they know
about the inner layers
of the Earth even
without drilling?
What is the semi-fluid layer
of the Earth's mantle
located just beneath the
lithosphere which plays a
key role in plate tectonics?
What are the two
main elements
present in the
core?
What makes the
inner core solid?
 Assignment#2

• Label the illustration

about the layer of
the Earth’s interior.
• Learning Drill # ___ The Earth’s Interior

• Fill in the blanks. Copy and answer the task in your notebook.

1. The Earth's outermost layer, called the __________, is where we

live and is the thinnest of all the layers.
2. The __________ is the thickest layer of the Earth and is made up
of semi-solid rock that flows slowly over time.
3. The innermost part of the Earth, primarily made of iron and
nickel, is called the __________.
4. The Earth's core has two parts: the solid __________ and the
liquid __________.
5. The __________ lies between the Earth's crust and core, making
up most of the Earth's volume.
 6.Seismic waves are vibrations that travel through
the Earth and are generated by __________.
7.The two main types of seismic waves are
__________ waves (P-waves) and __________
waves (S-waves).
8.The __________ discontinuity marks the boundary
between the Earth's mantle and outer core, where
seismic waves change abruptly.
9.The __________ discontinuity, also known as the
Moho, separates the Earth's crust from the mantle.
10.Seismic __________ waves cannot travel
through liquids, which helped scientists discover that
the Earth's outer core is liquid.
 Quiz # 5

• Justified Multiple
Choice
• 1. While hiking on a volcanic island, you notice that the
island is isolated from any tectonic plate boundaries.
What geological feature is most likely responsible for
the formation of this island?

A. The island was created by a convergent plate boundary

where two plates collided.
B. The island formed because of a divergent boundary
pulling two plates apart.
C. The island was formed by a hotspot, where magma from
deep within the mantle rises and creates volcanic
activity.
D. The island emerged due to a transform boundary, where
two plates slid past each other.
• 1. While hiking on a volcanic island, you notice that the
island is isolated from any tectonic plate boundaries.
What geological feature is most likely responsible for
the formation of this island?

A. The island was created by a convergent plate boundary

where two plates collided.
B. The island formed because of a divergent boundary
pulling two plates apart.
C. The island was formed by a hotspot, where magma from
deep within the mantle rises and creates volcanic
activity.
D. The island emerged due to a transform boundary, where
two plates slid past each other.
• 2. A scientist is drilling deep into the Earth to
study its structure. After passing through the
crust, what layer would the drill encounter next?

• a) The drill would reach the outer core, which is

made of liquid metal.
• b) The drill would pass into the mantle, which is
a solid but slowly flowing layer of rock.
• c) The drill would encounter the inner core,
which is composed of solid iron and nickel.
• d) The drill would move directly into the
lithosphere, which consists of rigid tectonic
plates.
• 2. A scientist is drilling deep into the Earth to
study its structure. After passing through the
crust, what layer would the drill encounter next?

• a) The drill would reach the outer core, which is

made of liquid metal.
• b) The drill would pass into the mantle, which is
a solid but slowly flowing layer of rock.
• c) The drill would encounter the inner core,
which is composed of solid iron and nickel.
• d) The drill would move directly into the
lithosphere, which consists of rigid tectonic
plates.
• 3. You’re observing the Hawaiian Islands, which were
formed by volcanic activity. What mechanism explains the
creation of new islands over time in this chain?

a) The islands are formed by the Pacific Plate moving over a

stationary hotspot that continuously releases magma.

b) The islands are being pushed together as a result of two

tectonic plates converging and uplifting the seafloor.

c) The islands form due to the collision of oceanic and

continental plates, creating volcanic arcs.

d) The islands appear due to the lateral movement of tectonic

plates along a transform fault.
• 3. You’re observing the Hawaiian Islands, which were
formed by volcanic activity. What mechanism explains the
creation of new islands over time in this chain?

a) The islands are formed by the Pacific Plate moving over a

stationary hotspot that continuously releases magma.

b) The islands are being pushed together as a result of two

tectonic plates converging and uplifting the seafloor.

c) The islands form due to the collision of oceanic and

continental plates, creating volcanic arcs.

d) The islands appear due to the lateral movement of tectonic

plates along a transform fault.
• 4. In a geology class, a student describes the Earth’s
internal structure as having an outer and inner core.
What is the key difference between these two layers?

• a) The outer core is solid and generates Earth’s

magnetic field, while the inner core is liquid and has no
role in magnetism.
• b) The outer core is a liquid layer of molten metal, while
the inner core is a solid sphere made primarily of iron
and nickel.
• c) The outer core is a gas-filled layer, while the inner
core is a layer of semi-solid rock.
• d) The outer core is primarily made of rock, while the
inner core consists mostly of water.
• 4. In a geology class, a student describes the Earth’s
internal structure as having an outer and inner core.
What is the key difference between these two layers?

• a) The outer core is solid and generates Earth’s

magnetic field, while the inner core is liquid and has no
role in magnetism.
• b) The outer core is a liquid layer of molten metal, while
the inner core is a solid sphere made primarily of iron
and nickel.
• c) The outer core is a gas-filled layer, while the inner
core is a layer of semi-solid rock.
• d) The outer core is primarily made of rock, while the
inner core consists mostly of water.
5. You visit a geothermal area known for its geysers and
hot springs, far from any plate boundaries. What is the
most likely explanation for this geothermal activity?

a)The heat is caused by the friction between two tectonic

plates grinding past each other.
b)The region is located above a mantle plume, where heat
from the Earth’s interior rises to the surface.
c)The geothermal activity is due to the subduction of an
oceanic plate beneath a continental plate.
d) The area’s heat is generated by the compression of the
crust at a convergent boundary.
5. You visit a geothermal area known for its geysers and
hot springs, far from any plate boundaries. What is the
most likely explanation for this geothermal activity?

a)The heat is caused by the friction between two tectonic

plates grinding past each other.
b)The region is located above a mantle plume, where heat
from the Earth’s interior rises to the surface.
c)The geothermal activity is due to the subduction of an
oceanic plate beneath a continental plate.
d) The area’s heat is generated by the compression of the
crust at a convergent boundary.